“I often think of the mothers of the young German men, who by no choice of their own have to go off and fight a campaign of repression, they are no worse than our own men,” sighed Mary, “they cannot all wish evil on others?”
“I doubt they do, but you are right, they have little choice in the matter and war breeds evil men, it gives them a pedestal in which to increase their own gains and make those with whom they detest suffer,” replied Eveline sombrely, “even within our own army, there are men who are bad and war gives them the right conditions in which to act in an evil manner, justified in the sense that they are fighting against a common enemy.”
“I’m sure you are right my dear, I just wish that my George had had a longer and happier life,” she cried.
“Abraham Lincoln once said that in this world of ours, sorrow comes to all: and, to the young. It comes with bitterness and agony, because it takes them unawares,” quoted Eveline, she loved Abraham Lincoln and spent many a day reading about him.
“Dear child, you should have gone to Oxford like my dear George, you have a bright mind, it is a shame you have no way in which to use it with purpose,” smiled Mary kissing Eveline on the cheek.
“I have spent too much time with my head in a book and have made myself unaware of reality,” sighed Eveline, thinking of Theodore.
“I don’t think that is such a bad thing my child, not in a world of war and depression,” comforted Mary.
“I fear the future, what will become of me,” whispered Eveline.
“Stop living in tomorrow, live in today for that is all we have and that is all we can control,” answered Mary tenderly getting up of the stool.
“Would you like to go for a walk later Mary?” asked Eveline kindly.
“Oh no, no, I am alright, anyway we have a young evacuee coming tomorrow, I need to prepare her room with Hannah,” smiled Mary making for the door.
“An evacuee? Grandmamma didn’t tell me,” Eveline replied a little shocked at the announcement.
“Well the letter only came today, a little girl called Belle, she is only six and has no other siblings, her father works in the government and her mother is a secretary, she will be staying with us until the war is over,” announced Mary, “it will be nice for you, you can show her about Bath and maybe even read to her and teach her the piano, poor child is very shy apparently.”
“Off course, I would love to take her about Bath,” smiled Eveline, happy at this turn in events. Eveline wasn’t great with children, sometimes she didn’t have the patience, but she did look after a little girl called Daisy in Keswick, with whom she taught to read and write, they both formed a firm friendship and maybe Eveline would have the same with Belle. Mary’s news helped to re invigorate Eveline’s prior sadness. Time and space and maybe some much needed distraction was what Eveline needed, there were much more important things going on other than the affairs of her heart. Eveline left the music room and went to have her breakfast, Hannah announcing that Theodore had left the house to go find other lodgings.
“Oh, so soon, well,” she felt awkward, “thank you Hannah.”
On Hannah’s exit, Eveline slumped back into her chair and sighed heavily, she really needed a job. After breakfast, Eveline gathered her coat, gloves and hat and made for the front door to go on a nice, brisk walk and maybe find her grandmother along the way. As Eveline opened the large door, donning her hat, she looked down and gasped at the little figure of a girl, wrapped up in a coat, suitcase in one hand.
“Hello,” she smiled awkwardly down at the petite little child with fair hair and green eyes, who looked lost and confused. “And who might you be?”
“Belle,” the little girl replied, looking up at the fashionable Eveline who looked just as confused.
“Are you not meant to arrive tomorrow?” asked Eveline, bending down before the shy child.
“Yes, but mama sent me on the train today,” replied Belle, her little round, green eyes, innocent and vulnerable.
“And how did you manage to come all the way from the train station to Crescent road?” asked Eveline a little alarmed at the thought of a six year old walking around Bath by herself.
“The man at the station brought me,” answered Belle flatly. “Can I come in? It’s cold,” she moaned. Eveline looked at the little girl and the little girl looked back just as intensely.
“Off course,” she replied happily, lifting Belle’s suitcase and showing her in.
“Wow!” Belle gasped at the beautiful reception, “are you rich?” she asked, her little nose in the air.
“No, but my grand mama’s friend is, this is her house, Mary is her name,” announced Eveline following the child’s gaze.
“Is she horrid?” asked Belle, her eyes darting up to Eveline.
“No, no” smiled Eveline, “she is lovely, you will love Mary, though she is a little sad, she lost her son a few weeks ago.” Eveline wasn’t sure if this was the right way to go about the information, but she felt sure that Belle was astute and smart and clearly liked to observe her surroundings.
“Oh, some of my friends died too,” whispered Belle softly, her eyes glazing. Eveline felt pain and shock to hear such words. Off course she had been aware of the German bombing of London, but everything felt so distant here in the East, well discarding Bristol. A little girl losing her friends who were probably around the same age, it was heart wrenching. It made Eveline want to lift the little girl into her arms and protect her from the world, she reminded Eveline very much of herself at that age.
“That’s very sad Belle, were they dear friends?” she asked gently, helping Belle out of her red coat, her little blonde curls bouncing about.
“Yes, Rebecca was my favourite, she lived next door, but then her house got blown up,” replied Eveline, her cheeks rosy.
“Oh how sad, would you like a nice cup of hot chocolate?” smiled Eveline taking Belle’s hand and bringing her into the morning room, watching as Belle’s round, green eyes grew in awe.
“Yes that would be nice, I’m hungry,” she moaned, clinging onto Eveline’s hand, obviously nervous.
“Well why don’t you make yourself comfortable and I will go and find you some hot chocolate, and maybe bring Mary down to meet you, is that okay?” asked Eveline.
“Okay,” replied Belle nervously, wandering about the large, morning room.
“Okay,” whispered Eveline taking her leave. It was several minutes before Mary and Eveline came back to the morning room, chatting together comfortably. As Mary greeted Belle, the front door slammed open and slammed shut. Belle ran to Eveline’s side, holding onto her skirt tightly as she watched a plump woman, wearing daring purple, dart into the room, sighing loudly as she entered.
“Blasted neighbour’s dog, nearly threw me in the pond!” she squawked at Mary, oblivious to Belle.
“Mr. Johnson’s Irish hound?” asked Mary, smiling across at Eveline. Mary was convinced that both Estelle and Harold were secretly meeting up in the park, a fact Eveline obviously was unaware off.
“Yes, my God it’s nearly up to my waist, dratted thing,” she moaned, setting her bag down on a nearby table, looking from Mary to Eveline and from Eveline to Mary, her eyebrows raised. “What’s going on?” she asked suspiciously before noticing a small figure hiding behind. “Good Scots!” she swore loudly.
“Estelle, I would like you meet Belle, we are looking after her for a while until it is safe for her to go back to her family in London,” announced Mary, smiling nervously at her oldest friend. Estelle was unable to find words as she looked down at the scared little girl, hiding behind Eveline’s skirts.
“Grand mama would you like to say hello?” interjected Eveline, trying to coax her grandmother out of shock. Estelle raised a hand to her mouth and made a frown at Mary before lowering her hand and straightening her back, frightening the child more.
“Well, hello Belle, I am Estelle, Eveline’s grandmother,” she walked over to Belle and held out a hand, Belle stepped forward
slightly and took the hand, her little hand in Estelle’s large and wrinkled hand.
“Hello, I’m Belle,” squeaked Belle, a little smile on her face as she took Eveline’s hand in her own for protection. Estelle strained her ageing eyes to look at the child, observing her.
“Why you are a pretty one, huh?” observed Estelle, stepping back and letting herself relax. “Eveline you should give her some lunch and get her settled before Doctor Cox arrives for Mary,” ordered Estelle now back to her usual, dramatic and bossy self. Eveline smiled down at a less strained Belle and rolled her eyes in fun, which made Belle squeak with laughter.
“Dinner is at five, on the dot,” informed Mary now taking Estelle’s arm and making for the settee. Before Eveline and Belle left the room, Estelle called out for her.
“Eveline child, where has that Theodore gone to?” she asked, her face concerned.
“I have no idea, he left after breakfast,” replied Eveline blankly, turning back to exit.
“Blast!” whispered Estelle causing Mary to frown at her old friend.
“You really need to stop swearing, especially as we have a child in our house,” scolded Mary sitting down on the settee in front of the fire.
“Oh stop whipping me Mary, you know I can’t stray far from the point, in any case most people swear within the vicinity of their homes, I’m sure Mary is well use to it,” cocked Estelle, stubborn as a mule.
Eveline and Belle spent time eating down in the kitchen with Hannah before, Eveline brought Belle up to her room which was opposites Eveline’s. Once Belle had settled in and had a quick nap, Eveline asked her if she would like to join her on a walk into Bath.
“Yes please,” she answered, jumping down from her bed and sitting on the floor, putting on her patent shoes. Eveline watched as the little girl tried to tie her laces, before kneeling down and helping her.
“Did you go to school in London Belle?” asked Eveline softly, knotting her laces.
“I had a tutor, called Mrs. Broom,” replied Belle, brushing her hair.
“Oh and did you like Mrs. Broom?” Eveline enquired standing up and taking the brush from Belle and turning her round to brush the back of her hair.
“Yes, she was kind, not like Mr. Shakespeare,” moaned Belle, bending her head a bit as Eveline combed it,
“You had a tutor called Mr. Shakespeare?” smiled Eveline.
“Yes, why do you know him?” enquired Belle.
“Well there was once a man named William Shakespeare who wrote some very famous plays,” Eveline answered, acknowledging that Belle was not probably yet acquainted with his work.
“Oh, was he bad too?” eyed Belle, now standing up and taking Eveline’s hand, following her out onto the corridor.
“No, he wrote a great many plays, most famously Romeo and Juliet,” replied Eveline, helping Belle down the staircase and towards the coat hanger.
“What’s that about?” she asked, letting Eveline put on her red coat.
“A young man and a young woman, both from enemy families, falling in love against their families wishes,” replied Eveline, taking Belle’s maroon scarf and wrapping it about her tiny neck, lifting her curls up and over, letting them fall about her shoulders .
“Why do their families not like each other?” enquired Belle watching Eveline put on her own coat, scarf, gloves and hat.
“Well their rivalry goes back years, before they were born, it almost has become commonplace amongst the town, even peasants have their sides, somehow along the way they both lost hindsight of what it was they were fighting for,” smiled Eveline, noting how observant Belle was, did she understand what she was trying to convey? It seemed like she did.
“Like my mama’s family and papa’s, they are always arguing,” groaned Belle, putting on her little fur hat. Eveline took her bag in her hands and opened the front door, a brisk gust of wind hitting them firmly on the face.
“Many families argue,” replied Eveline walking up Crescent Lane towards the centre of Bath, passing couples and children along the way.
“Where is your mama and papa?” asked Belle, letting her left hand trail along the black railings.
“They passed away when I was a child,” Eveline answered a shiver in her voice at their mention.
“I’m sorry,” whispered Belle, looking up at the pained face of her new friend.
“It wasn’t your fault pet, but I am happy with grandmamma, we have a fine time in Keswick,” she smiled down at the child, her nose and cheeks red.
“Where is Keswick?” Belle asked curiously, eyeing a german shepherd that walked by with its owner.
“Oh, well it is up in the Lake District, an area in the north, filled with hills, mountains and lakes, have you ever been?” enquired Eveline, stopping Belle to cross over to Upper Church Street. Belle quickly sprinted across the street alongside Eveline.
“No, I haven’t, is it nice? Can you take me there sometime?” Belle replied cheerfully, happy at the prospect of an adventure.
“Well maybe I will, I’m sure Mary and grandmamma wouldn’t mind if we went up for a few days in spring, would you like that?” Eveline answered smiling down at Belle.
“Above all things, yes, more than Christmas presents,” she declared, her little nose pointed.
“Well that is highly unusual, don’t all children love Christmas presents?” Eveline laughed as they passed the row of regency houses, winding their way through groups of children and mothers. It was just after three, so schools would be closing and so most of the children were headed home. Eveline wondered what would happen with Belle’s education, would she have to home school her.
“Well, I do like presents,” blushed Belle, “can I have both?” she dared ask. Eveline smiled widely at the gumption Belle showed, she rather loved this little girl, she was smart and brave, not one to back down and that impressed Eveline.
“I daresay, if you behave then yes, I am sure I can cater to both presents and a little holiday,” she answered decisively. For the next few minutes both Eveline and Belle walked together in peace, making idle talk about whose coat was nicer or which trees still had some leaves. It took the pair twenty minutes to find the Assembly Rooms on Bennet Street. Eveline and Belle looked up at the fabulous regency building before entering.
“I think they may do tea and scones here, would you like to go and have something to eat before we look around?” asked Eveline excited. It had been quite some time since she had last been in the Assembly rooms and she was happy to share this moment with Belle, who obviously would not be educated on Jane Austen and the romance of the regency era, but maybe this could be the start of Belle’s home schooling. Belle and Eveline entered the Assembly rooms, walking under the coliseums.
“It’s huge,” gaped Belle, her eyes darting around excitedly, “what is this place” she asked curiously.
“Well, it was designed by a man named John Wood in 1769 for the purpose of entertainment,” marvelled Eveline, imaging what the rooms would have looked like, filled with people and music.
“What kind of entertainment?” Belle asked.
“Well, there are four rooms; firstly the Great Octagon, which you will see shortly was used as a card room, where parties of men and women would gather to play whist,” replied Eveline forgetting about tea and scones and guiding Belle towards the very room. When they entered Belle sighed aloud, her eyes marvelling at the beautiful Whitefriars crystal chandelier at the centre of the bright and cheerful room.
“What is whist?” she cooed, gazing about the now empty room, her eyes locking on the fireplaces.
“Well you play it in pairs, and really it is about tricking your opponent, it’s all about strategy and out witting your opponents,” smiled Eveline, letting Belle roam around the room by herself.
“Can we play it sometime?” she announced, her little voice echoing around the octagon shaped room.
“Yes, my grandmamma is quite famous at winning,” replied Eveline happily remembering a certain ga
me in which William and his reverend father went home bitterly disappointed at the slightly drunken antics of Estelle.
“Good,” answered Belle coming back to her side, “can we see the other rooms now?”
“Alright and then we will go and have some tea,” Eveline replied enthusiastically. The Assembly rooms were not greatly populated, there were a few couples and maybe one or two small families, but it gave both Belle and Eveline ample opportunity to not only get to know one another but to acquaint themselves with the history of the rooms.
“So, which room was your favourite?” asked Eveline, pouring some tea into her cup before pouring milk into Belle’s, who was taking a huge bite out of a piece of Victorian sandwich cake. Belle waited until her full mouth was empty before replying.
“The ball room for sure,” she smiled, taking a sip of her milk, “what about you?”
“The ball room too I have to admit, I like to imagine dancing around in a flowing dress,” she dreamed aloud, thinking of Theodore.
“Me too, I would wear a pink dress with ribbons, would you?” smiled Belle gaily.
“Oh I would wear a fine red, velvet dress, it would go with my hair,” pondered Eveline, taking a bite out of her scone.
“Yes and you could wear gold jewellery to go with your eyes,” Belle nodded, seemingly unaware that Eveline’s eyes were a rarity.
“I’m sure I could, and you could wear a small tiara,” Eveline responded, looking out of the window and frowning slightly at the two men standing on the other side of the street, staring at her. Belle turned round and followed Eveline’s stare, then turned back.
“You notice them too,” she whispered, putting down her china cup.
“Who the two men over their?” quipped Eveline, trying to act as though she hadn’t noticed.
“Yes, they followed us all the way from your home,” replied Belle nervously.
“Why ever did you not say something?” Eveline quizzed gently, trying not to feel alarmed, where these the same men that had been following Estelle? Why did she now feel as though to stay inside was safer than going outside?
One Crown & Two Thrones: The Guardians Page 10